, to be but feeble; and the benefit of
change of residence being understood in those times as well as in our
own, Spinello was counselled to remove for a season to some sea-port
town on the coast of Naples. Through mere chance, and not from any
classical predilection, he chose Gaeta, anciently Cajeta, whither
Laelius and Scipio used to retire from the politics of Rome, to amuse
themselves with picking up shells upon the sand. To render the excursion
more pleasant and profitable, Bernardo determined to accompany his
intended son-in-law, and to make Beatrice also a partner of the journey;
and their preparations being soon completed, they departed in good
spirits, and in due time arrived at the place of their destination.

Lodgings were taken in the neighbourhood of the town, near the beach;
and the lovers, now comparatively happy, daily strolled together along
the margin of the Tyrrhene sea, which, rolling its blue waves in
tranquil succession towards the shore, broke in soft murmurs at their
feet.

They had now been some months at Gaeta, when Beatrice was suddenly
called home by her mother, who had been seized with a dangerous illness.
Her father of course accompanied her on her return: but Spinello, in
spite of his entreaties and remonstrances, was compelled to remain where
he was; as Beatrice, who feared that Arezzo might recall all his gloomy
ideas, peremptorily insisted that he should never return, but settle at
Gaeta, or remove to Naples. He therefore submitted, but with a heavy
heart; and saw his guardians, as it were, depart from him, and leave
him to himself.

What he seemed to fear when they left him, soon came to pass. With
solitude Lucifer returned; and he now presented himself so frequently,
and in such awful colours to Spinello's mind, that the little fabric of
health which had been reared with so much care, was quickly thrown down,
while visions of horror swept over the ruins. His health, which now
declined more rapidly than ever, was soon irrecoverably destroyed; his
frame wasted visibly away; and as his body grew weaker, his visions
increased in horror, until at length the intellect tottered upon its
basis, and almost gave way beneath their intolerable pressure. In
a few weeks he was shrunk to a skeleton, while his eyes shone with
preternatural brilliancy; so that the people of the house where he
lodged, were terrified at his appearance and avoided his looks. For his
own part, he was scarcely conscious